Apparatus for dry cleaning



No 1951 w. R.- DAPPRICH APPARATUS FOR DRY CLEANING Filed April 19, 1946- I lNVENTOR Wilt/AM RDAPPRICH BY I 6/: ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 13, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 8 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for drycleaning, and more particularly to those which utilize a liquid cleaning agent, such as carbon tetrachloride or the like, in atomized form.

In the art of dry-cleaning, the article to be cleaned is commonly immersed in, or subjected to, a suitable dry-cleaning agent in liquid form. Such practice is characterized not only by requiring the expenditure of a considerable quantity of the cleaning agent, but also in that the article to be cleaned becomes completely or partially saturated, with the result that considerable time is consumed before it is sufficiently dry to be used.' In addition, certain articles do not readily lend themselves to immersion in, or subjection to, the dry-cleaning agent; for example, upholstery, which is frequently difficult to remove. Moreover, the common practices referred to are frequently attended by disagreeable odors dry-cleaner in liquid form.

It is among the primary objects of the present invention to provide an apparatus for dry-cleaning in which there is utilized a liquid cleaning agent in atomized form; and in such manner that the article, or work-object, may be thoroughly cleaned while conserving the cleaning agent.

Another object is the attainment of thorough dry-cleaning without the saturation or thorough wetting of the article, with the result that it does not require a protracted drying period during which it cannot be used.

Still another object is the material reduction in the intensity of the odors which frequently attend conventional methods of dry-cleaning.

A further object is the provision of an apparatus possessing the foregoing advantages and one which is at the same time simple and inexpensive to manufacture and operate.

- A still further object is compactness and easy portability.

The invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described and as particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and the annexed drawings setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative of several of the number of ways in which the principles of the invention may be employed.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an illustrative embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, parts thereof being fragmentarily illustrated in section; and

.- Figure 2 is a sectional elevation of a preferred 2 form of cleaning head which is used to direct the cleaning agent to and away from the article to be cleaned.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 2 designates a suitable base upon which there is rotatably disposed a vertical shaft 3 driven through a speed-increasing transmission 5 by means of an adjacently disposed electric motor 6.

Secured to the approximate upper end of the rotatable shaft 3 is a rotary blower B which is encased in a housing l0 and provided with the usual intake and exhaust ports as at H and I2, respectively.

To the exhaust port I2 of the housing ID of the rotary blower 8 there is connected a cond-uit [5 within which there is an atomizer 15, preferably adjustable. This atomizer I6 is connected by means of a supply pipe l8 with a tank I9 which contains a suitable liquid drycleaning agent, for example, carbon tetrachloride.

After the air forced by the rotary blower 8 passes through the atomizer l6 and is heavily laden with finely atomized particles of liquid dry-cleaning agent, it is directed by the conduit [5 to a cleaning head generally designated at 2|. This cleaning head 2| comprises an intake chamber 23, to which the conduit I5 is connected, and

an exhaust chamber 24, by means of which air heavily laden with finely atomized particles of liquid dry-cleaning agent is caused to flow therethrough.

As shown more clearly in Figure 2, the underside of the cleaning head 2| is provided with an opening 25 which is adapted to be pressed against the work-object, whereby the stream of air heavily laden with the finely atomized particles of liquid dry-cleaning agent causes the loosening and dissolution of dirt, etc.

More specifically, the cleaning head 2| comprises an elongated substantially rectangular hollow casing within which there is a longitudinally extending centrally disposed partition 21 which terminates short of one end thereof, as shown at 29, to provide an uninterrupted flow of blown air and atomized liquid dry-cleaning agent through the intake chamber 23 and exhaust chamber 24. The top of the longitudinally extending centrally disposed partition 21 is substantially planar, while the bottom 30 thereof is thickened and longitudinally curved from its approximate transverse mid-section toward both of its ends, all as shown in Figure 2. The thickened and longitudinally curved bottom 30 of the longitudinally constructed and arranged with respect to the aperture 25 in the bottom of the cleaning head 2| as to provide a Venturi reaction to the flow of blown air and atomized liquid dry-cleaning agent as this mixture is moved into and out of contact with the work with which the bottom of the cleaning head is in contact. Thus the flow of blown air and atomized liquid dry-cleaning agent across the aperture 25 and through the exhaust chamber 24 isv greatly. facilitated, and turbulence is imparted to it as it leaves thecl-eaning head 2 i.

Superposed upon the housing I0 for the rotary blower 8 is a condenser, as shown at 3 3, the samel providing a tortuous path for the. blown .airandatomized liquid dry-cleaning agent. 'This condenser 34 is cooled by means of azfaniz35t-=which is secured to the upper extremity of therQtatable vertical shaft 3, the latter extendingthrough' and projecting from the upper side of the housing-ti The exhaust chamber 24 of the cleaning head His connected to the.intake..portSdofithe cone denser 3 tby meansof a conduitB-l In order to permit the easy application of thecleaning-headii to .thaarticle to:.be.=dr=y cleaned, the-adjacent portions .of.-the conduits I5land.3'! are ,constructedof a suitableeilexible material, such as rubber.

The-condensate .flo-ws. from. the condenser. 34

through a conduit 39 andfilter 49 into thetanlz.

In. order: todraw .the air. and atomized-liquid dry-cleaningagent from theexhaustchamber 24 of. the. cleaning head 2 I -through theconduit .31"

and into the intake 36 of the condenser.3t,.thc exhaust. port. 42 ofthe latteris .connected.-to.. the intake .port ll.of.the rotary bloweril by means of a conduit).

Due.v to .the. .construction and .-.arrangement-. of the.elementsofthe.cleaning-head. 2.|,.the. air and atomizedv liquid dry-cleaning..agentirom the.

cleaned article are... drawn. .through the. conduit.

3'! at .a greater .ve1ocity.- than. that .at. which. air

and atomizedliquid dry-cleaningiagent are forced.

through. the conduit l5;

The. high-speed. moderateepressure. blast .of air.

carries to the article to .be cleaned a maximum load .of finely atomizedparticles. off liquid;drycleaning. agent. This. blast of. air and finely. atomized particles .of l liquid'di'y-cleaning agent very. effectively. loosen and.dissolve the d-irtcontainedin. thearticle to she cleaned,.and.a very eflicient scavenging action is provided by the.Ven turi-feature of theclean-ingv head .2 l.

While I. have shown andfdescribed one, specific embodiment of thepresent invention, it will be readily understood that I'do not wish .to be lim-.

ited exactly thereto since various modifications; may be made without departing; from thescc-pe' of the invention as defi'nedin the. appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for dry cleaning comprising means for atomizing 'a dry-cleaning liquid, a cleaning hea'd having a work-engaging opening, means for. conducting a mixture of air'and atomized dry-cleaning liquid-to and from said head, and a blower. for continuously circulating said mixture through said last named means and said cleaning head, said cleaning head including a Venturi element-constructed and arranged to provide'a low-pressure-area adjacent the opening in'said cleaning head.

2. 'A unitary-and-portable apparatus'iordrycleaning comprising'means for atomizing a drycleaning liquid, acleaning head having a Work-- engaging opening, means for 'conductin'g' a mixing opening and a fiuid intake and a fluid exhaust, .meanscon-necting said atomizing means with the fluid intake of said cleaning head, a blower having an intake and an exhaust, a condenser, means connectingthegaseous side of said condenser to the intake ofsaid blower, means connecting the condensate side of said condenser with said supply means, means connecting the exhaust side of said blower. with said atomizing, means, .and meansconnectingthe fluid exhaust of said clean-- ing headwith said condenser, said cleaninghead. includingsa Venturi element. constructed-and arranged to provide a low-pressure area adjacent the work-engaging opening therein.

4; A unitary'and portableapparatusior. dry-- cleaning comprising means for supply-inga dry,= cleaning liquid, means for atomizing. said .drycleaning liquid; means connecting: said supply-- meanswithsaid-atomizing means, acleaning-head, having, a workeengaging opening and= a1fluid-.in.--- takeand. a: fluid exhaust,.meansiconnecting saidatomizing means with" the: fluid. intake of .said: cleaning head,v a blower. having an. intakeeandaam exhaust, a condenser, meansconnecting. the. gaseous side of said-condenser-toithe intakerof. said. b1ower,. means connecting the condensate. side of said condenser with..-sa-id supply .means. meansconnecting the exhaust sideofrsaid blower. with said atomizing means, 8,11di3/COHdll'itICOI1a meeting the fluid exhaust of said. cleaningrhead with-said condenser, said'cleaning headiincluding a Venturi element .constructed; and arranged to:

provide alow-pressure area adjacent'the Work-- engaging opening therein.

5. Apparatus for' dry-cleaning! comprising. mean 5 for supplying'a dry cleaning liquid;means for atomizing said dry-cleanin'g liquid, 'means. connecting said supply means with said atomizing: means; a cleaning head having awork-engaging opening and a fluid. intake and fiuid :iexhaust; means connecting said atomizingimeanszwithtthe fiuid intake of said cleaning head,'a..blower.ihaving an intake andan exhaust, a condenser; means connectingthe gaseous .side of saidrcond'enserrto the intake of said blower, a filtenmeans connect ing' the condensate side of said condenser with said filter, means connecting said filter withsaid. supply means, means-connecting theexhaustiside of said blower with said atomizing meana'anda conduit connecting the fluid exhaust or: said cleaning head with said. condenser, said'cleaning head including a V enturi element constructed'and' arranged toprovide a low-pressure-area adjacent the work-engaging opening. therein.

'6. A unitary and portable apparatusiorfdrye cleaning comprising means .for supplyingzadry cleaning liquid, means for atomizing said idrycleaning liquid, means connectingxsaid. supply means with said'atomizing means, a cleaning head having a-work-engaging' opening. andia; fluid intake and a-fluid. exhaust, means connectingsaid, atomizing means with the flui'd intalce .ofi-saidz. cleaning head, ablowerhaving ran intake andz'an exhaust, a condenser, means connecting the gaseous side of said condenser to the intake of said blower, a filter, mean connecting the condensate side of said condenser with said filter, means connecting said filter with said supply means, means connecting the exhaust side of said blower with said atomizing means, and a' conduit connecting the fluid exhaust of said cleaning head with said condenser, said cleaning head including a Venturi element constructed and arranged to pro vi de a low-pressure area adjacent the work-en- I gaging opening therein.

gaseous sideof said condenser to the intake of said blower, means connecting the condensate side of said condenser with said supply means, means connecting the exhaust side of said blower with said atomizing means, and a conduit connecting the fluid exhaust of said cleaning head with said condenser, said cleaning head including a Venturi element constructed and arranged to provide a low-pressure area adjacent the workengaging opening therein.

8. A unitary and portable apparatus for drycleaning comprising means for supplying a drycleaning liquid, means for atomizing said drycleaning liquid, means comiecting said supply means with said atomizing means, a cleaning head having a work-engaging opening and a fluid intake and a fluid exhaust, means connecting said atomizing means with the fluid intake of said cleaning head, a rotatable shaft, a blower secured to said shaft and having an intake and an exhaust, a condenser, a fan secured to said shaft. said fan being adapted to cool said condenser, means connecting the gaseous side of said condenser to the intake of said blower, means connecting the condensate side of said condenser with said supply means, means connecting the exhaust side of said blower with said atomizing means, and a conduit connecting the fluid exhaust of said cleaning head with said condenser, said cleaning head including a Venturi element constructed and arranged to provide a low-pressure area adjacent the work-engaging opening therein.

WILLIAM R. DAPPRICH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 759,141 Thurman May 3, 1904 890,568 Maine June 9, 1908 1,383,455 Farnsworth July 5, 1921 1,986,292 Seavey et al. Jan. 1, 1935 2,182,655 Bowen Dec. 5, 1939 2,237,830 Jerome Apr. 8, 1941 

